Search

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that trigger post-transcriptional gene silencing. These RNAs need to be associated with the Argonaute proteins to be functional. This assembly begins with loading of a miRNA duplex, followed by the ejection of one of the strands (passenger). The remaining strand (guide) together with the Argonaute protein forms a ribonucleoprotein effector complex (the RNA-induced silencing complex, RISC). Mutation on the Argonaute protein, if affecting either step of the RISC assembly, impacts the function of miRNAs. Therefore, any observation of decreased miRNA level of mutants will provide insights into the role of those amino acid residues in the mechanical function of the Argonaute protein. In this chapter, we introduce a method to relatively quantify a specific miRNA co-immunoprecipitated with wild type and mutant Argonaute proteins from HEK293T cells, using Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Spiking a synthetic exogenous miRNA as an internal control with RNA extraction prior to cDNA synthesis will normalize the C t values obtained from the qRT-PCR assays and enable us to quantify the relative level of Argonaute-bound miRNA.

Complex immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) is a powerful technique for precipitating an intact protein complex out of solution and cell lysates using an antibody that specifically binds to a particular protein in a large complex of proteins. Mass spectrometry (MS) is used to identify, sequence, and quantify proteins. RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs), Ago2 centered protein assemblies, are essential for miRNA mediated RNA decay and gene expression regulation; however, the complete list of RISCs is unknown. Here we describe methods used to combine IP and MS to identify new components of RISCs.

The mouse testis has served as a popular model system to study a wide range of biological processes, including germ cell development, meiosis, epigenetic changes of chromatin, transposon silencing, and small RNA-mediated epigenetic modifications. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of small RNAs that are almost exclusively expressed in animal gonads. They repress transposons by forming effector complexes with PIWI proteins to maintain genome integrity of the germline. Here we describe detailed procedures of how to produce monoclonal antibodies against a mouse nuclear PIWI protein, MIWI2, which functions in de novo DNA methylation of target transposon loci. We then describe how to use the antibodies to isolate associated complexes and to detect MIWI2 immunohistochemically.